England may look like a peaceful island, but it swarms with ancient forces: old gods hungry for a touch of worship; mysterious spectres that can grant wishes, pre-historic cultural memories that can raise hungry spirits; and then there's the mysterious haunted washing machine unhappy with the new detergents. The Church of England's militant arm confronts evils and angry washers.

The liturgy of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer follows the ancient patterns of Jewish and Christian liturgies. The remarkable quality of the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer is the biblical model that is its foundation. The model used is the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. The result is that there is a focus on repentance from sin and reconciliation to God.

The Holy Communion service from the Second Prayer Book of 1552 was one of the most vigorous liturgical experiments ever. This book aims to reveal its extraordinary character, too often hidden behind the later 1662 service. A clear text, with copious and careful notes, this book will guide both priest and student who want to grasp the wonderful vitality of this revolutionary text.